So who are the protesters?

One group claiming to be at the Hamburg protests is the US activist group Refuse Fascism. The collective claims the Trump administration is fascist and plans to drive it from power.

There are also many local radicals at the protests. Hamburg has a vibrant squatter scene that developed in the 1980s. Some of the last holdouts for violent activists on Friday night were in the Schanzenviertel district, known for its squat culture.

Among the peaceful majority are climate activists, including Greenpeace and German environmental groups.

Perhaps one of the most violent elements in Hamburg is the Black Bloc movement, which seeks to overthrow capitalism. According to Reuters, police pursued members of the group across scaffolding on Friday night as they sought to escape to rooftops, meanwhile smoke billowed from barricades below.

Activists on a roof next to graffiti reading: “Attack G20” in Hamburg’s Schanzenviertel district. Photo: Getty.

The youth of the Black Bloc movement was on their side and many managed to escape police who were weighed down by riot gear.

Estimates put the number of hard-left militants at around 1,000.

What do they want?

Whether they’re anarchists who want to overthrow capitalism or campaigners who want to tackle climate change, the protesters seem to agree on one thing – the world can’t rely on this group of leaders.

Activists condemn Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. They question the moral authority of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who has been imprisoning his opponents back home.

“We know that the people who cause the misery that we have all over the world today – refugees, wars, and so on – they are sitting right now in the G20 and are having a chat,” Suse Haber, a protester with an environmental group from Germany, told Reuters.

“In New York right now, some 130 countries are preparing a nuclear arms treaty, in order to abolish nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the leaders of the nuclear powers are sitting here having a good time. That’s what we’re protesting.”

Arrests, chaos, ‘attempted murder’

Police have arrested 114 people, according to AP, including one man who is being held on suspicion of attempted murder for using a laser to temporarily blind the pilot of a police helicopter.

And First Lady Melania Trump was prevented from leaving her hotel to go on a historical tour of the harbour.

International leaders from 19 nations and the European Union – the Group of 20 – are convening to discuss global trade, climate change and international terrorism.

We know that sometimes it’s easier for us to come to you with the news. That's why our new email newsletter will deliver a mobile-friendly snapshot of inews.co.uk to your inbox every morning, from Monday to Saturday.

This will feature the stories you need to know, as well as a curated selection of the best reads from across the site. Of course, you can easily opt out at any time, but we're confident that you won't.

Oliver Duff, Editor

By entering your email address and clicking on the sign up button below, you are agreeing to receive the latest daily news, news features and service updates from the i via email. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will not pass on your information.